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Introduction
Data and information are crucial in the field of research and knowledge. Most of the time, information or data has to be distributed or shared. In many cases, data passes through different channels before it reaches the final destination.
There are many ways of moving information. In the age of electronic technology, the exchange of data is swiftly accomplished through the use of a hard copy or an electronic copy.
The primary difference between hard copy and paper copy is that the hard copy is a tangible document that can be written on or printed so long as you can grasp it with your hands and read it with no device.
On the other hand, a soft copy is an electronic version of the documents. However, they cannot be held with hands but can be read using a digital device like a smartphone or computer.
What is a Hard Copy?
A hard copy is a digital document file that can be printed onto paper or some other material. In hard copy, the output is printed on paper and is also a form of a permanent copy. It is a tangible document of information or data and it can be felt or touched. We can state that it is physically copied. For example-books, notebooks, printed document files, newspapers, etc.
What is a Soft Copy ?
A soft copy is a digital document file or an electronic digital version which isn’t printed on paper. The output is available on USB drives, computers, etc. and is sometimes referred to as a temporary copy. It is intangible and we cannot physically access or touch it. It is an electronic copy. For examples-E books, PDF notes, E newspaper, scanned notes etc.
Key Differences Between Hard and Soft Copy
| Hard Copy | Soft Copy |
| Hard copies rely on ink and paper. | Soft copies rely on computers. |
| Hard copies take up considerable space and aren’t transportable. | Soft copies don’t take up any real space. |
| Hard copies are paper copies. | Soft copies are digitally or electronically written copies. |
| The hard copies need lots of time to get to various locations. | You can send the soft copies to any location without requiring any additional time. |
| A hard copy is convertible to a softly copied image using the scanner. | Soft copy has a print onto a piece of paper using a printer. |
Soft copies are less prone to damage when you compare them to hard copies of documents. In some ways, they’re stronger when compared to hard copies.
While you can bend or fold the hard copy, burn it or torn, lose it or it can get dirty, a softer copy is immune to any of these situations virtually indefinitely when placed in a properly designed hardware structure.
A printer and an electronic typewriter can make a hard copy. The printer’s DPI can measure the quality of the copy by (dots per inch). In general, laser printers are of the best quality.
A soft copy contains information and data as virtual files that you can save on a computer or drive. You can keep hard copies for too long since it is vulnerable to wear and tear. It is possible to keep a digital copy for all the time you like.
There’s no connection between them, aside from them being transmitters of data (data). They each have their own distinctive values and features. The hard copy is an old method of transmitting data.
Soft copy is now an entirely new method of transmission. In the 21st century, a digital copy is indeed more popular. However, hard copies hold their own significance when it comes to writing information.
